Dire Straits are one of the six acts elected to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame today. This was the band's first time on the ballot, although it has been eligible since 2003. Dire Straits finished third in the Fan Vote, behind Bon Jovi and The Moody Blues.
Singer-guitarist Mark Knopfler and bassist John Illsley, who were in every incarnation of Dire Straits, will be inducted along with co-founders David Knopfler and Pick Withers as well as Alan Clark (who was in the lineup from 1980 to 1995) and Guy Fletcher (1984 - 1995). He is in Mark's current solo band.
Mark Knopfler was in in his British Grove Studios in London when we spoke to him about the honor.
"You know, the overwhelming majority of people that I've ever mentioned it to, they all say, 'You should be in the Hall of Fame.' You realize in fact it does mean a lot to people. That's great. It's a good feeling at last."
While it's still early and anything can happen, one thing that won't is the original line-up performing at the ceremony.
Mark Knopfler is not interested in performing with the original Dire Straits line-up at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony next Aprl in Cleveland.
"No, I'd don't think I'd want to do that because I left that set-up behind such a long time ago. I mean I've been going solo for a lot longer than the band was ever together, but I still do a lot of those songs."
Asked who he'd like to be inducted by, Knopfler mentioned two of his friends as good candidates -- Bob Dylan and Eric Clapton.
The 33rd annual induction ceremony will be held in Cleveland -- home to the Hall of Fame and Museum -- on April 14th at the Public Auditorium.
The Class of 2018 also includes The Moody Blues, The Cars, Nina Simone, Sister Rosetta Tharpe and Bon Jovi.
Source: RockHall.com and Premiere photo credit - Getty images